Apparatus for sewing stringer tape for slide fasteners



Feb, 20g 1951 A R. M. GlBBoNs, JR 2,542,764

APPARATUS FOR SEWING STRINGER TAPEyoR SLIDE FAsTENERs Filed Dec. 21, 1946 3 Sheets-Shea?. 2

Feb. 20, 1951 R. M. GIBBoNs, JR 2,542,754

APPARATUS FOR SEWING STRINGER TAPE FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Dec. 2l, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 |Nvz-:N-roR ROBERT M. GIBBONS, JR. 66a,

68/ PIE. Z

Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FoR SEWING STRINGER TAPE Y PoR sLmE FAsTENERs Robert M. Gibbons, Jr., Meadville, Pa., assignbr to ,Ialon., luc., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

` Appliebemi nebenbei-'21, 194,6, seriellen-.7.173547 (CL-naja) l13 Claims.

This invention relates to Stringer ta'e for slide fasteners, and particularly to an improved vapparatus or attachment for use with automatic sewing machines for sewing cords to the ltape t'o vform a beaded edge therealong tofw'hich the ,fastener elements are attached. v

In themanufacture of slide fastenersof'the type yconsisting ofwa seriesof closely-spaced interlocking fastener elementsA attached 'tothe' opposed reinforced or beaded edges of a pair of stringer tapes, it is the'general practice to form the reinforced or beaded e dge"`along one edge of the tape by sewingy two separate` cords lthereto with one ldisposed on each side of the tape. These cords are usually sewed tlc'theA tape in such a manner soas to provide a slight radius of curvature in the sewed tape or concavity at the beaded edge, the purpose offwhich is to obtain ultimately a straight and flat Stringer after'the fastener elements have been attached or clamped to the edge thereof, the beaded edge being stretched or lengthened somewhat b'yfclam'p'ing ofthe fastener elements thereto. Such curvature in the tape is usually obtained ,by maintaining the cords under tension as they yare ybeing sewed to the tape.w Vlfhile such tensioning of the cords did produce a. curved tapefit was'diiilcult to control in order tobbtain the desiredcurvature.l Inlother words, itwa's diflcultfan'd virtually impossible to obtain a uniform curvature'in the tape merely by tensioning the cords.

It is the primary object of thepresent inven-l tion to provide apparatus or means for controlling accurately the amount of -cord Vbeing`delivered'to the sewing machinerelativexto the amount of tape being delivered thereto so astfo obtain a uniform curvature in the sewed tape. Accordinglyit is vthe generalobject ofthe invention to provide an improved apparatus'or attachment for sewing machines vwhich controls and measures the length ofthe two cords being delivered tothe Inac'hinerelative to thezlen'gth of tape being delivered thereto so that theprp er lengths of vcord are sewed to the tape for any given length thereof to'obtain the desiredcurvatureinthetape.'v

It is another object of this invention to provide means incorporated with such apparatus for varying the amount of cord being `'delivered to the v machine relative to the tapef delivery whereby the radius' of curvature f thes'vewed tape may be varied within a relatively narrow range, as desired, Y It isa furtherobject of the present invention tovprovideisuch apparatus which' is simple and rest.v

inexpensive in its construction, and which can be conveniently 'incorporated with a conventional sewing vmachine at a'nominal cost and which will not interfere with the operation It is still another object of the invention to provide such apparatus Vwhich requires little or no attention from'the operator after it has once been set in operation and, at the same time, such apparatus which is ec'ient and effective in its use.

"Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specication, and will be particularlypointe'd out in theV appended claims.

' Inthe accompanying drawings,vthere is shown for ythe purpose of' illustration'an embodiment which my invention vmay assume in practice.

In these drawings:

"Fig, 1 is a plan view of the improved apparatus of the present invention;

' Fig. A2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figl 2;

Fig. 5v is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig-2; f

Y Fig?. 6 is an'e'nlarged rear view, in'detail, of the tape and cord guidingemeans positioned adjacent the'needle, as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l-'l of Fig 1'; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the Stringer tape to whichmy invention relates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, theV improved apparatus'of my invention comprises a rectangular-'shaped base 2 having an extension 3 arranged to one side thereof. The base 2 is preferably hollow having a shoulder 4 positioned at each corner thereof extending into the hollow portion and disposed slightly below the top of the baseupon which shoulders the main base 5 of the-sewing machine is adapted to suitable bearing'socarried by'a plurality of 'upwardly extending brackets'la, lb, and 1c, a 10ngitudinally extending,4 hollow shaft 3 which is disposed'substantiall7 parallel to the base E and the sewingfmafchine. AThere is arranged in the hollow 'portion of the shaft S, a solid shaft 9 on one end of which there is securely arranged a knob (il. The( knob lil carries a key l2 which engages'in one position with a ykeyway 'I3 arranged in the end ofthe shaft 8, asshown in Fig.

On the extension" 3, *there is arranged in 1 of the drawings. The opposite end of the shaft 9 fits disengagingly into a coupling I4 carried by a shaft l5 of a gear box I6 mounted on the extension 3. Adjacent this end of the shaft 9, there is secured thereto a collar |1 which abuts against the adjacent end of the coupling |4, and there is secured to the shaft 8 at a spaced distance from the collar IG, an adjustable collar |1a. Between the collars |1 and l'ia, there is disposed around the shafts 8 and 9, a compression coil spring E8 for the purpose of maintaining normally the shaft 9 in engagement with the coupling |4. There is carried by another shaft I9 arranged With the gear box I6, a pulley 29 over and around which there is disposed a chain or belt 2| which is also disposed over a pulley 22 which, in turn, is connected to the main drive shaft of the sewing machine, which `is shown in broken lines. By such an arrangement, it will be seen that the shafts 8 and 9 are driven by the main shaft of the sewing machine by means of the belt 2|, the pulleys 29 and 22, and the gear box I6.

As more clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, and 5 of the drawings, intermediate the lengths of the shaft 8, there is secured thereto a roller 23 having an enlarged knurled portion 24 arranged around the periphery thereof. There is carried by the bracket 1b adjacent thereto, a lever 25 having one end thereof pivotally attached to the bracket, as at 25. On the other cnd of the lever 25, there is arranged a roller 21 having an enlarged knurled portion 28 arranged around the periphery thereof which cooperates with the knurled portion 24 of the roller 23 to pull the sewed tape through the machine in a manner hereinafter to be described. There is arranged securely with the roller 21, a gear 29 which meshes with a gear 39 arranged with the roller 23. The roller 21 is rotated by the roller 23 upon rotation thereof through the action of the gears 29 and 3U. The gear1 29 is maintained in meshing engagement with the gear 39 through the action of a coil spring 3| which extends between the end of the lever 25 and the bracket 1b. There is provided a lever arm 32 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 8 intermediate its length. On one end of the lever 32, there is arranged a pin 33 whichr rests on the upper side of the lever 25. It is the purpose of this lever arm 32 to move the lever 25 about its pivotal connection at 26 against the action of the spring 3| so as to move the roller 21 and gear 29 out of engagement with the roller 23 and the gear 30 for the purpose of initially threading the tape between these rollers. AThere is provided a U-shaped member 23a which is attached to the extension 3 having the end thereof terminating adjacent the periphery of the roller 23 for the purpose of stripping the sewed tape from this roller.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, there is also secured to the shaft 8 adjacent the end thereof and at a spaced distance from the roller 23, another similar roller 34 having an enlarged knurled portion 35 arranged around the periphery thereof. There is pivotally attached, as at 31, to the bracket 1a adjacent thereto, a lever 38 on the upper end of which there is rotatably mounted an idle roller 39 which contacts tangentially the roller 34. The roller 39 is held in contact with the roller 34 by means of a coil spring 4|] which extends between the end of the lever 38 and the bracket 1a. There is movably mounted on the shaft 8, a lever 41 having a pin 48 positioned in one end thereof which rests against the upper side of the lever 38. It is the purpose of this lever arm to move the lever 38, together with the roller 39 carried thereby, out of contact with the roller 34 against the action of the spring 4D for the purpose of threading the tape in between and around the rollers 39 and 34. There is positioned above the roller 39, a tape guide member 4| which is slotted longitudinally thereof, as at 42, through which one end of the slot the tape passes to the roller 39 in a manner to be described. There is also provided in the slot 42, a pair of machine screws 43 for adjusting the member 4| longitudinally of the roller 39 which are threaded into a bracket 44 which is attached to the bracket 1a by means of machine screws 45 disposed in a slotted hole 46 arranged therein. The slotted hole 46 is provided for adjustment of the bracket 44, together with the bracket 4| carried thereby transversely of the rollers 39 and 34.

There is also securely mounted on the shaft 8 intermediate the length thereof at a point between the brackets 1b and 1c, a roller 50 which is preferably frusto-conical in shape, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings. There is pivotally attached to the bracket 1c, as at 5|, a lever 52 having a roller 53 rotatably mounted in the upper end thereof which is also preferably frusto-conical in shape. The roller 53 is held in tangential contact with the roller 5D by means of a coil spring 54 having one end attached to the upper end of the lever 52 and the other end attached to the bracket 1c. There is provided a lever 55 which is rotatably mounted intermediate its length on the shaft 8. There is disposed on one end of the lever 55, a pin 59 which bears against the upper side of the lever 52. This lever is provided for moving the lever 52, together with the roller 53 carried thereby, out of Contact with the roller 50 for the purpose of threading the cords around the last mentioned roller.

There is arranged directly above the roller 59, a plate-like member 51 which extends between and rests upon the brackets 1b and 1c and is secured thereto by means of the machine screws 58. There is arranged in the member 51, an angular elongated slotted hole 59 through which an adjusting bolt 60 extends for adjusting a platelike guide member 6| therealong longitudinally of the roller 50. The guide member 6| is preferably L-shaped having a pair of guiding eyes or apertures 62 arranged in the upwardly extending leg 93 thereof. Centrally of the horizontally disposed or other leg portion, there is arranged therethrough a guiding eye or aperture 64 which is positioned substantially in tangential alignment with the outer periphery of the roller 5D. It is the purpose of this adjustable guide 6| to deliver the cords to the proper position along the periphery of the roller 50 for a purpose and in a manner hereinafter to be described.

On the outer end of the base plate 5 of the sewing machine directly opposite the needle 65, there is arranged a plate-like member 66a on which there is mounted another plate-like member 61 having a lip or shelf portion 68 which extends into a horizontally arranged, slotted opening 69 arranged in a guide member 19 disposed directly below the needle 65. There is also arranged in the guide 1D, a vertically disposed, slotted hole 1| which communicates with the slotted opening 69 in the side thereof with the lip or shelf portion 68 of the member 61 disposed in the slot 1| for a purpose hereinafter to be described. 'I'here is mounted on the member 61, a

ggf-gaver movable T-shaped guide member 12 whichlisatj-l The plate-like member 66a is attached to'rthel top of the base 5 by means of a pair of machine screws 14 which are disposed in the open end slotted holes 'i5 in the outer edge of the plate.`

There is positioned on the plate 65a rearwardly of the plate 61, another plate 66 to the side of which there is mounted on the base 5,`al bracket" member 'i6 provided with an adjusting screw 'Il which extends between the bracket and the outer edge oi the member 65 for adjusting'the plates 6B;

and 66a away from and toward the needle 65 for the purpose of adjusting thel guides carried thereby.

plate 51, an outwardly extending member 18 having an upwardly extending flange portion Idar-I,

having one end thereof adjustably secured tov the plate 65 by means of a studv 8 1. There is arranged with the stud tl, a spring 82 `which acts upon the guide member S to maintain the outer end thereof in contact with the member 'i8 and yieldably in engagement with the flange 19 carried thereby, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. K

There is positioned on the base of the sewing machine forwardly of the nezdle 65 and the plate 55, an adjustable guide member 82 which has a slotted hole 83 arranged thereinin which a machine screw 84 extends which is threaded into the base 5 for adjustingtheguide. In the inner end of the guide 82, as shown in Fig. 3,`

there is provided a rectangular-shaped opening 85 through which the tape is guided to the needle.

On top of the base 5 of the sewing machine on the side opposite Athat from the shaft 8 and the rollers 23 and 34 carried thereby,there is;

mounted a bracket member 86 vonwhich there is mounted an idle roller 81 on `an angularly arranged axis 83. There is also rotatably mounted ontop Vof the base 5, a pair of'idleguide rollers:`

B9 and S5 having a pair of spaced-apart circumferential grooves 89a and 95a, respectively,jar

ranged therein in which the cords are adapted; to be disposed. The guide roller 89 is positioned; opposite the frusto-conical shaped roller 50d, and

the other guide roller is positioneddto one side and at a spaced distance therefrom ata pointv on the base between the rollers 23 and 34, as

member si, down around the idle roller 39,up'` and around the roller 34, through the slot 35 inY the guide member 82, through the slot 69 in the` member 'lil positionzd directly below the needle 55, over the end of the guide member 18, around the idle roller 8l, and back over and down around the roller 23, so as to be positioned between vthis roller and the roller 2 and out of the machine, It will be understood that the tape ispositioned in the machine under normal jtension;l in other words, when the tape is positioned in `the `machine, as above described, and threaded through Y the various guides and rollers, that portion of the tape extending from the roller' 34 thinigh,l

the machine to the roller 23 is placedundr ten- There is attached to the bottom of the4 member 65 rearwardly of the needle GE'andthe..

sion. tvi'loj which are adapted to.

be sewed to the tape T are then positioned in the apparatus by threading them through the eyes62 in the adjustable guide member 6l, down through the aperture Eil!l therein, down'around theH frusto-conical shapedA roller 50 so that the,

cords are positioned between this roller and the frusto-conical shapedroller 53, around the idle guide rollers 89` and 98 so that one of the cords is positioned in each of the circumferential grooves 89a and 90a, respectively, arranged in these rollers, and through the slot 69 in the member 'l0 with one of the cords being disposed on top of the tape and the other positioned therebelow at the edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 7. The cords C are then disposed along the tape andthreadedaround the idle roller 81 and back down' around the idle roller 23 and out of the machine.

The guide member 6I is then adjusted along the member 5I by means of the adjusting nut Bil so thatthe cords C will be delivered to the desired point on the periphery of the frusta-com ical shaped roller 50 to obtain the desired tension in both of the cords. In other words, the member` Si is adjusted so that the proper length of both ofthe cords C is delivered to the sewing machine relative to the amount of tape T being delivered thereto in order to obtain the desired curvature in the sewed tape.

After both the tape and cords are positioned in the apparatus and machine, as above described, the sewing machine is set in operation. When the machine is operating, it will be seen that the shafts 8 and 9 `will be rotated thereby due to the action of the belt 2|, the pulleys 2Q and 22, and thegear box I6. Upon rotation of the shaft 8,l itwill be seen that all of the rollers secured thereto, namely, rollers 34, 23, and 55, will be rotated thereby. As the roller 23 is rotated, it will be seen that both the tape T and the cords C are pulled through the various guides-and the machine from the roller y34 thereby maintaining the tape and cords under tension with the tensionon the cords being the greater depending upon the curvature desired in the finished tape. This is due to the fact that the cords C are positionedjon that portion of the frusto-conical roller 50 having a greater diameter than the roller 34. In other words, the peripheral speed of the position that the cords C assume on the roller 50 is greater than that of the position the tape T assumes on the roller 34. It will be understood that the roller 34 delivers the tape T to the machine from the source of supply, while the frusto-conical shaped roller 55 delivers the cords C to the machine rfrom its source ci supply.

During the sewing operation, it will be seen that both of the cords are sewn to the edge of the tape by the needle t5 at the guide lil, as shown in Fig. '7, to form a curved Stringer tape, as shown in Fig. 8, with the cords C sewn there-v ,r to by 4means of the stitches S. It will be underthe ,tension applied to the tape T between the rollersQfSlfl1 i and 23 i remains y constant V.while `that applied to the cords is variable due to the frustoconical roller U, but it may be desirable, however, to have an arrangement whereby the pe-A and cords into the machine or for any otherpur-` pose, the shaft 9 may be disconnected from gear box I6 and the source of power merely by pulling the shaft 9 outward y by means of the handle Ill so as to disconnect the shaft 9 from the shaft I5 at the coupling I4. To connect the shaft 9 with the power drive, the handle IU is released so as to permit the shaft 9 to move inwardly with the key I2 passing into the keyway I3 of the shaft 8 due to the action of the spring I8.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a simple and inexpensive means or apparatus which can be easily incorporated with a conventional type sewing machine for measuring accurately and controlling the amount of cord being sewed to the tape'so that the radius of curvature in the sewed Stringer tape can be accurately and efficiently controlled.

While I have shown and described an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it wi.l be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocable needle for sewing a pair of cords to opposed sides of a flexible tape at onel edge thereof, means positioned rearwardly of said needle for pulling the tape together with the cords sewed thereto-through said machine relative to said needle, rotatable means. positioned forwardly of said needle around which the tape passes for retarding the delivery of the tape to the machine whereby that portion of the tape under said need'e between said pulling means and saidk retarding means is under a constant tension, rotatable means positioned forwardly of said needle around which the cords pass for controlling and measuring the length of the cords being delivered to the machine at said needle s0 that the proper lengths of cord are delivered to the machine and sewed to the tape for any given length thereof.

2. In combination with a sewing machine having a reclprocable needle for sewing a pair of cords to opposed sides of a flexible tape at one Y edge thereof, rotatable means positioned rearwardly of said needle for pulling the tape together with cords sewed thereto through said machine relative to said needle, rotatable means positioned forwardly of said needle around which the tape passes for retarding the delivery of the tape to the machine whereby that portion of the tape positioned between said pulling means and said retarding means is under a constant tension as it passes through the machine rotatable means positioned forwardly of said needle around which the cords pass for retarding the delivery of the cords to the machine whereby the cords likewise are under a constant tension, means arranged with said last mentioned means for adjusting the amount of retardat'on of said cords relative to that of said tape whereby the Ill 8 l proper lengths of cord are delivered to the machine and sewed to the tape for any given length thereof, and means for guiding the tape and cords to position in under said needle for the sewing together thereof.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein the means positioned forwardly of the needle for retarding the delivery of the cords to the machine consists of a frusto-conical shaped roller around which the cords pass, means for maintaining the cords in engagement with the periphery of said roller, and means adjustable longitudinally of the roller for delivering the cords to the periphery of said roller at any desired point therealong.

4.v The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein the means positioned forwardly of the needle for retarding the delivery of the cords to the machine consists of a frusto-conical shaped roller around which the cords pass, a similar frusto-conical roller oppositey disposed from said first mentioned roller and arranged in tangential contact therewith for maintaining the cords in engagement with the periphery of said first mentioned roller, and a means adjustable longitudinally of said rollers for delivering the cords to the periphery of said first mentioned roller at any desired point therealong.

5. In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocable needle for sewing a pair of cords to opposed sides of a flexible tape at one edge thereof, an elongated shaft positioned substantally parallel to said machine at one side thereof, a roller securely arranged on said shaft over and around which the tape together with cords sewed thereto is disposed, said roller adapted to pull the tape and cords through said machine relative to said needle when said shaft is rotated, a similar roller securely arranged on said shaft opposite said needle over and around which the tape is disposed for retarding the delivery of the tape to said needle when said shaft is rotated, guide means positioned on the opposite side of the machine from saidshaft for reversing the path of the tape with the tape passing from said last mentioned roller, in under said needle, around said guide means and to said first mentioned roller, said rollers being constructed and arranged so that that portion of the tape extending in under said needle and around said guide means is under constant tension due to the retarding action of said last mentioned roller, and means for delivering the cords to said machine includ'ng means for controlling and measuring the lengths of the cord being delivered thereto at said needle so that the proper lengths of cord are delivered to the machine and sewed to the tape for any given length thereof. y

6. The combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the means for controlling and measuring the lengths of cord being delivered to the machine at the needle consists of a frusto-conical shaped rotatable roller over and around which the cords are disposed, and means adjustable longitudinally of said roller for delivering the cords to the periphery thereof at any desired point therealong.

7. The combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the means for controlling and measuring the lengths of cord being delivered to the machine at the needle cons'sts of a frusto-conical shaped roller securely arranged on said shaft including means arranged therewith maintaining the cords in engagement with said roller, and means adjustable longitudinally of said roller for delivering the cords to the periphery thereof at any desired point therealong.

8. In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocable needle for sewing ajpair of cords to opposed sides of a flexible tape at one edge thereof, an elongated shaft positioned substantially parallel to said machine at ,one side thereof, a roller securely arranged on said shaft over and around which the tape together with cords sewedthereto is disposed, said roller adapted to pull the tape and cords through 'said ma-I chine relative to said needle when said shaft is rotated, a similar roller securely arrangiedon said shaft substantially opposite said needleover and around which the tape is disposed forjretarding the delivery of the tape to said needle {when said shaft is rotated, an idle roller positioned on the opposite side of the machine from said shaft around which the tape is disposed for reversing the path thereof as it passes thereto` from said needle, means positioned adjacent saidlneedle for positioningrand guiding the cords and tape as they pass thereunder, a frusto-conical shaped roller securely arranged on said shaftover and around which the cords are delivered toksaid machine, Said roller adapted to retard `the delivery of the cords and to measure the lengths thereof being delivered to said machine at said needle so that proper lengths of cord are delivered and sewed to the tape for any given length thereof, a similar frusto-conical shaped roller disposed opposite that from said rst mentioned roller and in tangential contact therewith,"said last mentioned roller adapted to maintain said cords in engagement with the peripheryiofsaid rst l mentioned roller, and means adjustable longitudinally of said rollers for guiding and delivering the cords to the periphery of the first mentioned conical roller at any desired point f therealong.

9. In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocable needle for sewing cords to the edge of a flexible tape, rotatable means around which the tape passes for delivering the tape together Vwith the cords sewed thereto* from said machine, rotatable means positioned forwardly of said needle around which the tape passes for maintaining the tape taut and under constant tension as ,it is delivered to said machine, and at least one roller positioned forwardly of said needle over and around which the cords pass whereby the proper lengths of cord are measured and delivered to the machine and sewed to the tape for any given length thereof.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9, wherein the roller around which the cords pass is frusto-conical in shape.

11. In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocable needlefor sewing cords to the edge of a flexible tape,rotatable means around which the tape passes for delivering the tape together with the cords sewed thereto from said machine, rotatable means positioned forwardly of said needle around which the tape passes for maintaining the tape taut and under constant tension as it is delivered to said machine, and a pair of rollers positioned forwardly of said needle disposed directly opposite each other around and between which the cords pass whereby the proper lengths of cord are measured and delivered to the machine and sewed to the tape for any given length thereof.

12. The combination as defined in claim l1, wherei-n the pair of rollers around which the cord passes are both frusto-conical in shape.

13. In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocable needle for sewing a pair of cords to opposed sides of a flexible tape at one edge thereof, means for delivering cords to said machine, cylindrical means around which the tape passes as it is being delivered to the machine, means for simultaneously measuring and controlling the lengths of cord being delivered to the machine relative to the length of tape being delivered thereto whereby the proper lengths of cord are delivered to the machine and sewed to the tape for any given length thereof, and rotatable means for pulling the tape, together with the cords sewed thereto, from said measuring and delivering means through vsaid machine relative to said needle whereby the tape is constantly under a predetermined tension.

ROBERT M. GIBBONS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,605,913 Bates Nov. 9, 1926 2,274,721 Marinsky et al Mar. 3, 1942 

